Coming Home
By TheRogueAuthor
Chapter 3
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Remy "Gambit" LeBeau pulled up to The Institute's iron gate on his motorcycle and punched his code into the keypad. The famed thief had been away for two weeks at his brother Henri's wedding, and he couldn't have been any happier to finally be out of the lovey-dovey environment. The happy couple had depressed him, seeing them and their sympathetic looks just annoyed him even more.
The familiar wave of anger and sadness once again came over him as he waited for the gate to open.
"Should 'ave been us, chere." He muttered to the sky. Nothing made him sadder than the family he should have had, the kids and happy memories he had missed out on. Though seemingly carefree and happy with his eternal bachelor's life, the life of a playboy, Remy LeBeau had not been truly happy in a little under 5 years. As for his façade of the dashing, happy, ladies man, well, the booze took care of that.
He angrily kicked up off the pavement and roared into the garage, spotting Jeffrey sitting nervously on the step.
"Remy! You're back!" Over the past three years Jeffrey had become like a little brother to the infamous Gambit, providing a bit of humor in the lonely man's life. Their bond, though odd, was a strong one, and Remy couldn't have been happier to see his buddy.
"Mon ami! What is 'appening in de exciting life of Jeffrey Bloom? And why were y' waiting? Remy tol' y' he'd be back a week from now."
Jeffrey glanced sheepishly at the ground, his ears turning slightly pink. "My art teacher's coming to dinner tonight, and I thought I'd wait for her…" He trailed off, quickly glancing at Remy then back at the floor.
"Really…" replied Remy, covering his face (and smirk) with one of his motorcycle-gloved hands.
Jeffrey perched primly on the end of Remy's bike, not bothering to hide his smirk.
"Yes, and I'm not gonna say a thing. You'll make fun of me again."
Remy held his hands up in protest. "Remy never made fun of y' and Giggles, he supported y' relationship."
Jeffrey stared at him in disbelief. "You put 2 cups of Tabasco in Gigi's gumbo! You call that support!"
Remy couldn't help but let a chuckle escape. The little snob had deserved it. "At least 't stopped th' giggling."
"She couldn't speak for a month! She dumped me the second she could talk again!"
"No one minded that, homme. Remy's shocked 'e didn't get a medal."
Jeffrey humphed and pouted. "Fine, be that way" he glared at Remy, then suddenly looked at the gate, a hopeful look on his face, remembering his reason for being outside in the first place.
Remy smirked; he knew this look all too well. "Den' Remy'll jus' leave you here to wait on de old fogey." He was halfway up the steps when Jeffrey finally sputtered out a reply.
"She's NOT old! She's 22! She's really pretty too!" (A/N: What is with this accidental rhyming?)
Remy jumped of the wall he had been perched on. "Remy knew it! You do 'ave a crush on 'er!"
He turned, whistling, to walk in to the mansion, leaving Jeffrey blushing like a crazy green and red Christmas ornament behind him.
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Kitty stared out the window, seeing the familiar motorcycle pull up to the mansion's gates. She was glad to have Remy home, safe, where she could keep an eye on him. Ever since her best friend's death, Kitty had taken as her responsibility to take care of him. Not that the 24-year-old needed a parent, but ever since he closed himself off after Rogue's funeral, Kitty couldn't help but worry for her would-have-been brother-in-law. She was happy he had at least found friendship as a mentor to Jeffrey, and she let out a small giggle as she noticed the boy blush at something Remy said.
Speaking of Remy…
"Ello, Kitty! Lookin' for Remy? You know, y' are married, y' can't keep pining after Remy's hot body." He smirked, keeping up their long running joke
Kitty smacked him and gave him a hug. "See Jeff waiting for his mystery girl, Mr. LeBeau? He's been out there for a half-hour. New art teacher's a mutant it seems."
Remy glanced up from staring out the window. "Really? What's her power?" He pulled off his sunglasses, as if suddenly remembering them still being on.
"They don't know, Cerebro couldn't figure it out. Her names Anna Darkholme, and she's 22. She's coming at 5."
Remy groaned. "Cerebro couldn't tell? Merde, not a telepath!"
Kitty let out an un-lady-like snort of laughter. Remy and Rogue had always made her laugh with their telepath-bashing.
Remy was making to move up the stairs when Kitty piped up again. "Remy?"
He looked back down at her and she finally let it out. "I miss her so much."
He sighed and enveloped her in his arms as she cried. "I know, petit', I know."
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At promptly 4:57 that evening, Rogue was on her way to the mansion, regretting letting Carol take her. True to her word, Carol had picked out an outfit, and Rogue was not enjoying looking like High Fashion Barbie. Carol, on the other hand, was having a little too much fun.
Oooooo… are you gonna do a whole revenge scene and all? Like, you know, "My name is Maximus Decimus Arelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, sorta thing?
Rogue sighed. "Carol, jus' cause Gladiator was playing on the plane, did not mean you had to watch it. And, it especially doesn't mean you must quote it nonstop either."
She paused to shoot the confused motorist next to her a glare. "What, Y'all have never seen a gal have a conversation with the voices in her head before?"
Yeah, cause you are soooo normal, Miss White Stripes. And you still haven't answered my question. What are you going to do?
"I am normal! I even have a image inducer to cover mah hair! You shut up!"
Rogue…stop dodging the question.
Rogue pulled her motorcycle into the exit, furiously hitting the brakes just a little bit too hard. "Ah don't know, Carol! Ah honestly have no idea how Ah'm gonna treat the people who abandoned me in a Mutant torture chamber! I don't think there's a For Dummies book on that!"
Carol sighed, a bit more contained. You're going to have to figure it out, Rogue. We're here.
Sure enough, the mansion loomed out in front of them, chock full of memories.
"Well," said Rogue, reaching up to push the buzzer, "Here goes."
Buzzzzzzzzzzzz
"'ello, petit'? Anyone out dere?"
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Yes, I have finally updated. Hope you like it, babes.
Sorry it took so long, I was at band camp.
TRA